National Consumer Protection Week

Fairfax County Observes National Consumer Protection Week

Feb. 6-10 is National Consumer Protection Week, which will highlight
consumer protection and education efforts around the country. “Consumer
Protection? It's the Name of the Game” is the theme, and the Fairfax
County Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection will
celebrate with free events that provide valuable information to
consumers.

An information table will be located outside of Suite 127 of the Fairfax
County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax,
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Feb. 6-10. Consumer investigators will be
available to provide advice and information, and consumers will have the
opportunity to test their consumer IQ. Valuable information will be
provided to empower consumers so when they spend money, they can score “a
grand slam, not a grand scam.”

Lunchtime screenings of episodes of “Consumer Focus” and “Your
Community, Your Call” will be held in Suite 133 of the Government Center.
Staff will be available in the screening room, but questions will be
referred to the investigators in front of Suite 127.

Brownbag identity theft seminars will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at
11:15 a.m. and Thursday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m. at the Government Center, and
on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m., at the South County Government
Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria.

Fairfax County government cable Channel 16 will broadcast a “Consumer
Focus” live call-in program for consumer questions on Thursday, Feb. 9,
from 7 to 8 p.m. Guests and staff of the Consumer Protection Division
will be available to provide information and answer consumers’ calls. The
show will replay on Channel 16 on Tuesday, Feb. 14, Wednesday, Feb. 15,
and Friday, Feb. 17, from 7 to 8 p.m.

In addition to providing advice, the Consumer Protection Division
investigates and mediates consumer complaints and tenant-landlord
disputes to determine whether consumer protection laws have been
violated. The division provides a complaint history on county businesses
to assist consumers with pre-purchase information; supports homeowner
associations in the county; and licenses and regulates taxicab drivers
and operators, peddlers, solicitors, precious metal and gem dealers,
pawnbrokers, massage establishments and therapists and
going-out-of-business sales.

Consumer Protection Division staff members also develop conciliation
agreements to resolve complex disputes and offer binding arbitration when
mediation efforts are exhausted. The division also takes a leadership
role in the community by distributing educational brochures on a wide
variety of consumer topics. Regular meetings are conducted with
associations, schools and other interest groups to keep them apprised of
current consumer trends and ways to avoid consumer scams, frauds and
other problems.

Consumer Protection Division staff members also are available at Access
Fairfax in Suite 125 of the South County Government Center on the first
and third Wednesdays of the month from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m